Mattress-stuffing machine.



No. 630,20l. Patented Aug. I, |899. R. l. EGGLESTON & F. OLIVER.

MATTRESS STUFFING MACHINE.

(Application filed Apr. 19, 1899.)

3 Shets-Sheet l,

(No Model.)

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No. 630,2ol. Patented Aug. l, |899. n. l. EGGLEsToN s. r. oLlvER.

MATTRESS STUFFING MACHINE.

{Applicaton led Apr. 1Qy 1899.) (No Model.) 3- Sheets-Sheet 2.

l@ 5f Fl 22) @l F No. 630,2m.

Patented Aug. l, |899. R. l. EGGLESTON & F. ULIVEH.

MATTRESS STUFFING MACHINE.

(Application led Apr. 19, 1899.)

3 Sheets-Sheet 3,

(No Model.)

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE,

RICHARD I. EGGLESTON, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, AND FREDERICK OLIVER, OF CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA.

MATTRESS-STUFFING MACHINE.l

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 630,201, dated August 1, 1899.

Application filed April 19, 1899. Serial No. 713,665. (No model.)

invented certain new and useful Improve-` ments in Mattress-Stuffing Machines; and we do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

Our invention relates to mattress-stuffing devices, and has for its object certain improvements, hereinafter described and claimed,

whereby the operation of stuffing a mattresstick is more easily and satisfactorily performed and the filling delivered uniformly to the tick.

Our invention will be understood by reference to the accompanying drawings,wherein the same parts are Indicated bythe same letters throughout the several views.

Figure l is a View, partly inl longitudinal section and partly in plan, showing our apparatus as in the position for expelling a charge from the box into the Inattress case or tick, the cover of the box, however, being open. Fig. 2 is a vertical longitudinal section of the apparatus, taken on the line 2 2 in Fig. 1, the

' cover being closed. Fig. 3 is a cross-section taken on the line 3 3 in Fig. 2, looking to the left. Fig. tis a rear elevation of the follower withits hinged back let down. Fig. 5 is a similar view of the same with the cable omitted. Fig. 6 is a detail perspective View of one of the slats for coniinin g the filling in a mass. Fig. 7 is a fragmentary perspective view of the forward ends of a pair of the confining slats, showing the addition of means for securing the ends together in an easily-detachable manner. Fig. S is a front elevation of the delivery-hood of the box; and Fig'. 9 is a view similar to Fig. 1, showing a modified arrangement of the cable for advancing and retract-ing the follower-head.

A represents the filling box or casing,which is rectangular in shape and of the size of the mattress to be filled. This box has permanent bottom and sides and is closed at its rear end A' and open at its forward or delivery end,which is fitted with a delivery-spout B, over which the tick or casing C maybe placed, as seen in Fig. 1. The box is provided with a lid or top A2, which is hinged `to the rear end of the box A', so as to be opened andclosed at will. Any suitable means, such as hooks a2 a2, may be provided for securing the cover in its closed position.

D represents a follower, which is of a length and thickness to fit transversely within the box A and to be movedlongitudinally therethrough. The said follower consists, preferably, of a solid block, which Inay be groovcd at do along its rear face and at d2 d2 across its ends for the passage of a cable E or other means for drawing the follower through the box. This block is also provided with a series of wider grooves (Z3, whichv extend from the face of the block at its upper side backward across the top, downward across the back, and forward across the bottom, as seen in Fig. 5. These grooves are provided for the reception of flexible attachments, such as flat straps F upon the rear ends of the slats F.

The slats F, of any suitable number, are of sufficient length to extend from the face of the follower-block D, when the latter is in its extreme rearward position, to or near the delivery end of the box A, as seen in Figs. 1, 2, and 9.

The flexible connections F'(shown as leather straps) are secured to the rear ends of the slats F, and extending along the portions of the grooves cl3, across the upper and lower sides of the follower-block D, are secured at the back of the said follower-block by engagement with studs d' d in the said grooves at the back of the follower-block, as seen in Figs. 2 and 4.. Instead of leather straps, as shown, however, we may employ any other suitable connection, such as metallic straps provided each with a double hinge, such as Will allow the upper set of said slats F not only to be turned backward out of the way when filling the box A, but which will allow their rear ends to move upwardly with respect to the follower when they have passedl the forward edge of the box-cover A' at the forwardpoint ICO of the travel of the follower. This latter effeet is important in order to release the filling from the slats when the follower is retracted.

Each slat F is stiff and has a shoulder f, which abuts against the forward face of the follower-block when the rear ends of said slats are confined, as by the cover of the box being closed, so that during the forward movement of the follower these slats are projected, along with the filling, into the mattress-case; but when the follower reaches the mouth of the box A the shoulders fupon the rear ends of said slats will become disengaged from the face of the block by reason of the pressure of the filling material, thus releasing the slats from the filling, as above referred to. The forward ends of said slats may be left free, as seen in Figs. 1, 2, and 9, or, as shown in Fig. 7, an arrangement for connecting these ends may be provided. This connection must allow of a ready disengagement when the follower and slats are to be retracted after projectingA the illing -into the mattress-case. Thus the upper slat F3 has a rounded stud]c3 on its forward end, and the lower slat F4 has a flexible strap F5 attached to its forward end, the said strap having an eye f5 near its free end which passes readily over the stud f3.

When a charge of filling has been forced into its case and the follower is to be retracted, the upper slat F3 is disengaged from the strap F5 by a slight backward pull by the hand of the attendant, and the strap being thus freed will be drawn out with the under slat F4.

A backing-plate D2 is hinged upon the back of the follower D and when closed covers the back thereof completely, serving to retain the flexible slat connections F in engagement with their respective studs CZ'. A pivoted catch d4 is provided for engaging the said backing-plate in its closed position and securing it.

We may employ any means for advancing and retracting the follower; but we have shown in Fig. I a simple means consisting of a cable E, attached at its ends to drums G', provided with a turning crank G2, the said cable reeving over pulleys g upon the forward part of the boxAand running behind the follower-block engaging in the grooves d0 and d2. The side members A2 of the box A are longitudinally grooved for the passage of said cable, as seen at a2 in Fig. I. In this arrangement the follower is advanced by winding the cable on the drums G through the medium of the crank G2, mounted upon the shaft G2,

. common to the said drums, or we may use two endless cables, or equivalent means, such as sprocket-chains and gears, (indicated by H in Fig. 9,) the said cables being connected to the ends of the follower-block, as at h, and reeving over pulleys h and h2 upon the forward and rear ends, respectively, of the box A. These cables are wound so as to advance or retract the follower by means of a crank H,mounted upon the shaft I-I2,carrying bevelgears h2, meshing with other bevel-gears rigidly connected with the pulleys h2 at the rear end of the box A. By this arrangement a simple turning of the crank II' in one direction will carry the follower forward to the extreme limit, and a simple reverse motion of the said crank will cause the follower to return to its retracted position.

We do not wish to limit ourselves to any particular arrangement of means for advancing or retracting this follower, andthe means herein shown are for the sake of illustration and as embodying simplicity in operation.

As seen in Fig. 1, the mattress-casing C is fitted over the spout or hood B in a wrinkled or folded position, as indicated in Fig. l, so that as the follower and the mass of filling inclosed between the slats F in front of the follower and the slats also are forced forward the said casing becomes extended until it reaches its limit of extension, at which time the mass of filling will have been forced into the casing, as will be readily understood.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is

I. In a mattress-stu fiing machine, the con1- bination with a follower-block provided with transverse grooves; of a plurality of stiff slats; and flexible connections between said slats and the rear of said follower-block arranged to lie in the said grooves, substantially as described.

2. In a mattress-stuffing machine', the com# bination with a follower-block, of a plurality of stiff slats having shoulders at their rear IOO ends arranged to abut against the forward face of said follower-block; and iiexible connections between the rear ends of said slats and the rear of said follower-block, substantially as described.

3. In a mattress-stuflin g machine, the combination with a follower-block; of a plurality of stiff slats at the upper and lower edges of the said follower-block; flexible connections between the rear ends of said slats and the said follower-block; and detachable connections between the forward ends of pairs of the said slats, substantially as described.

4. In a mattress-stuffing machine, the combination with a follower-block provided with transverse grooves upon its upper and lower faces; flexible straps connected to the rear of said follower-block and arranged to lie in the said grooves upon the upper and lower faces of said block 3 and stiff arms secured to the said iiexible straps at the forward edge of said block and extending in advance thereof, substantially asdescribed.

5. In amattress-stufiin g machine, the combination with a follower-block provided with transverse grooves upon its upper and lower faces; iexible straps connected to the rear of said follower-block and arranged to lie in the said grooves upon the upper and lower faces of said block; stiff arms secured to the said flexible straps at the forward edge of said block and extending in advance thereof; and

IOS

IIO

flexible detachable connections between the forward ends of pairs of said arms, substantially as described.

6. In a mattress-stuffing machine, the combination with a rectangular box, a followerblock mounted transversely therein and movable therein; a plurality of stiff arms having flexible connection with the upper edge of said follower-block and extending in advance thereof, said arms being arranged to confine the filling material in said box; and means for continuously advancing the followerblock, substantially as described.

7. In a mattress-stuffing machine, the combination with a rectangular box, a followerblock mounted transversely therein and movable therein; a plurality of stiff arms having flexible connection with the upper edge of said follower-block and extending in advance thereof; said arms being arranged to confine the filling material in said box; means for continuously advancing the follower-block with the said arms; and means for continuously retracting the said follower-block with the said arms, substantially as described.

S. In a mattress-stuffing machine, the combination with a rectangular box and a movable follower therein; of a plurality of arms carried in advance of the said follower-block; one set of said arms being connected at their rear ends to the upper face of the said follower-block byflexible connections which will allow the rear ends of said arms to be forced outwardly by the pressure of material Within said box when exterior pressure is removed from the said arms, substantially as described.

9. In a mattress-smiling machine, the combination with a follower-block; of upper and lower sets of stiff arms having flexible connections at their rear ends with the upper and lower faces respectively of said followerblock; and flexible connections between pairs of said arms at their forward ends, substantially as described.

10. In a mattress-stufiing machine, thev combination with a follower-block; of upper and lower sets of stiff arms having flexible connections at their rear ends with the upper and lower faces respectively of said followerblock; flexible straps connected to the forward ends of one set of slats and provided with openings near said ends, and studs upon the forward ends of the other set of said arms, attached to engage the said openings in said straps, and thus clamp said arms upon the filling material, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof we affix our signatures in presence of two Witnesses.

RICHD. I. EGGLESTON. FREDERICK OLIVER. IVitliesses for R. I. Eggleston: Jos. H. BLAcxwooD, J. STEPHEN GIUSTA. Vitnesses for Frederick Oliver:

BROOKE B. TODD, R. E. WAGGAMAN. 

